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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 51
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR AND REPRESENTATIVE LEBAS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend the people of Evangeline Parish and the Evangeline Centennial Project, to
recognize the One Hundredth Anniversary of Evangeline Parish, and to celebrate
those efforts made to encourage historic preservation of the rich cultural heritage of
Acadiana.
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish abounds with a quaint charm and vitality all its own,
a bastion of Cajun customs and traditions that date back to Colonial Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the topographic make-up of the parish is that of alluvial plains or
prairies with soil ideal for farm crops of all kinds, livestock, and timber, plus an abundance
of vital water resources with ample wildlife for hunting and fishing; and
WHEREAS, the founding families of Evangeline Parish include the names of
Fontenot, Clark, Ortego, LaFleur, Guillory, Pucheu, Vidrine, Dossman, Fruge, Gaty,
Campbell, Young, Currie, and DeRouen; and
WHEREAS, this gumbo of settlers who came from far points on the globe sought
their fortunes in the rich heartland of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the present population of thirty-four thousand consists of all manner of
ethnicities and many are descendants of early colonists and immigrants who can trace their
roots back to France, Spain, Africa, Canada, and Germany, as well as indigenous American
Indians, such as the Attakapas and the Opelousas; and
WHEREAS, from its early history, the region was established as a portion of French
Colonial America, except for a brief period of Spanish rule from 1762 until 1802; and
WHEREAS, it was during this period that the first Acadians, four families, arrived
in the Louisiana Territory in 1764 and others continued to immigrate to this "New Acadia"
until 1785; and
WHEREAS, Acadians settled the frontier, cleared large tracts of land for farms and
ranches, and reared their families; and their way of life, language, religion, and traditions
became the prevailing influence of that era and remains a French-based societal force today;
and SCR NO. 51 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, in 1807, by act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Orleans,
the lands under its jurisdiction were subdivided into nineteen civil subdivisions or parishes,
including the establishment of Imperial Saint Landry Parish, formerly the County of
Opelousas; and
WHEREAS, a century later, State Representative P. L. Fontenot, with the support
of Senator Ladislas Lazaro, authored legislation that went into effect on January 1, 1911, to
establish the parish of Evangeline, a region carved from the western corner of Imperial Saint
Landry Parish, in one of the oldest areas of continuous habitation in the state; and
WHEREAS, the parish seat of Ville Platte, translated from the French language as
"flat town", was a prosperous settlement situated on "El Camino Real" or the Spanish Royal
Road, a vital commercial artery for trade that connected New Orleans to Natchitoches, and
currently U.S. Highway 167; and
WHEREAS, the new parish derived its name from the heroine of the classic poem,
Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847- the epic
journey of a young Acadian woman who came to Louisiana when exiled from Canada; and
WHEREAS, a similar fate befell the ancestry of a significant portion of South
Louisiana's Acadians or Cajuns, who were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1755 by the British
Crown; and
WHEREAS, it is perhaps an innate persistence of the people of Evangeline Parish
to resist outside influences and to continue to make significant contributions to the historic
preservation of their culture through music, language, art, cuisine, and dance; a plethora of
customs unique to anywhere else, that is passed down from one generation to the next; and
WHEREAS, the communities that dot the landscape possess their own cultural
variances and are the sites of numerous fairs and festivals, such as the Boggy Bayou Festival
in Pine Prairie, the Crawfish Etoufee Cook-off in Belaire Cove, the Swine Festival in Basile,
the Christmas Parade in Chataignier, and Louisiana Folk Roots Cajun and Creole Heritage
Week that is held at Chicot State Park; and
WHEREAS, Ville Platte is home to the Swamp Pop Music Hall of Fame Museum,
the Le Festivale de la Viande Boucanee (Smoked Meat Festival), the Mardi Gras Gumbo
Festival, and a week long Cotton Festival that culminates with Le Tournoi, a contest based SCR NO. 51 ENROLLED
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on the ancient sport of jousting, where horseback riders dressed as knights attempt to spear
seven brass rings with a hefty lance while riding at full gallop; and
WHEREAS, the town of Mamou is the setting for Courir de Mardi Gras, a rural
country version of the Mardi Gras Festival, the Cajun Music Festival, the Veteran's Day
Celebration, and the birthplace of Cajun cultural renaissance in the 1950s Famous Fred's
Lounge; and
WHEREAS, Fred's, a popular watering hole, was the meeting place of the pioneers
of the Cajun revival who were concerned with the decline of Cajun culture, spoken language,
and music; and
WHEREAS, preservation efforts were set in motion to retain treasured links to the
past and to foster a greater appreciation by future generations of their colloquial French
heritage that promoted development of several enrichment programs, such as CODOFIL, the
Council for the Development of French in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, now on Saturday mornings, Fred's becomes the epicenter of the Cajun
music universe as talented musicians gather for a live radio broadcast (KVPI 1050 AM)
called the Cajun Music Radio Hall of Fame and where music afficionados, both local and
international, come to listen, to dance, and to 'pass a good time'; and
WHEREAS, Cajun music, known as Zydeco, and dance go hand-in-hand as band
members sing in French dialects and feature guitars, accordions, fiddles or violins, and the
iron triangle, a te fer, all of which stirs the feet of those assembled to move in rhythm to the
Contradance, a French square dance, and the traditional Fais-Do-Do; and
WHEREAS, internationally renowned Cajun music or "Swamp Pop" has beau coup
Grammy Award-winning artists to its credit with fans and followers around the world; and
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish is embraced by nature's bounty that can be found in
the Louisiana State Arboretum, a conservatory of native plants and trees, Chicot State Park,
the state's largest park with 6400 acres of lakes and woodlands, and the Crooked Creek
Recreational Area, and each site serves as a glimpse of verdant paradise; and
WHEREAS, each month of the year holds a special observance, whether "paqueing"
eggs (egg knocking) on Easter Sunday, or attending the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole
Heritage Week in April, or dancing at the Cajun Music Festival in May, or hunting squirrel SCR NO. 51 ENROLLED
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in October, when the season's opening date is an undeclared holiday, or cheering for the
youthful participants at the T-Cotton Bowl in the fall; these events are precious to people
who revel in their fundamental sense of joie de vivre, the enjoyment of life; and
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish is blessed with warm, friendly people with strong ties
to family, community, and country, steadfast loyal patriots of their locale and its traditions,
who extend an exuberant welcome to all visitors and who put forth a special invitation for
all who once called the parish their home, to again,"Come Home To Evangeline Parish" and
Laissez les bon temps rouler; and
WHEREAS, on October 29, 2011, the Centennial celebration culminates with a
festival on the courthouse grounds in Ville Platte and includes a dedication of the new
bronze statue of "Our Evangeline", cast in the likeness of a youthful Emilie Breaux Frazer,
a former Miss Evangeline, and rendered by Louisiana sculptor, Jerry Gorum, along with
selected readings from the Evangeline poem by Dr. Layne Longfellow, a collateral
descendent of the poet; and
WHEREAS, the people of Evangeline Parish strive to preserve and celebrate a way
of life that has survived since its inception, and together contemplate a future filled with
hope and prosperity for generations yet to come.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend the people of Evangeline Parish for their efforts to preserve their truly unique
traditions and diverse heritage, and does hereby recognize October 29, 2011, as the
celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Evangeline Parish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize with pride the distinctive cultural elements that this region contributes to the
richness of life in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mary Alice Fontenot, president of the Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES